Wielder of Shadows (Daughter of Darkness #1)

by Allie Cole

“I’m hiding a monster, too. Everyone is. That’s why I hold on to the light as much as possible. Everyone has darkness inside them, Ela. It’s what the world does to us. Just don’t let it take over, because that’s not who you are.”

Her next thoughts make my blood freeze. No, no, no. Over my fucking dead body she’s giving up! As we’re flying through the forest, she’s welcoming death, making peace with it. The most unnerving panic takes my heart in that instant. I can’t lose her. I just can’t. Everything depends on her. We need her too much. I need her too much.

Insignificant fools who dared to come after her, trying to take what’s mine.

“I’ve been waiting for you for so long...” I can’t control my thoughts anymore.

“No...” I growl deeply as I grab her by the neck and push her back against the wall. Her breath catches in her throat, and she swallows hard, her chest heaving. The scent of her arousal overwhelms me. “I’ve been waiting for you, and you only.”

He stays with me for hours, his support unfaltering as I’m slowly dying inside. If only she had killed me, instead of leaving me to this torment, though I deserve it all. I’ve destroyed her, and now I’ve lost her. When I think I can’t hurt more than I currently do, her scream resonates inside me, tearing through what’s left.

“I hear it can be repaired.” I shake my head. “You don’t get it. I felt it snap.”

“If I had to do it all again, I would. Bearing the burden of my power is a small price to pay to be put on your path. And living in a world where you exist will always be worth it, even if one moment with you is all I ever get.”

“I love you, Ela. More than I could ever put into words. I adore you. All of you.”

“You are my mate, little one. There will never be anyone else.” He’s looking at me with pure adoration in his eyes. “I promise to show you how much I love you until you can trust me. I’d walk through the gates of Hell and relive the horrors of a thousand lives to find you because you are mine, as I am yours, and I will never give up on you. It’s never been about the prophecy.”